Breast Lift Surgery (Mastopexy) – Scottsdale, AZ

About Breast Lift Surgery

A surgical breast lift ("Mastopexy") is a procedure that lifts and tightens the breasts by reducing excess skin, bringing the nipple back to where it belongs, and tightening the breast tissue to produce a firmer, younger appearance. This cosmetic breast surgery is offered for women who have lost breast fullness and shape, and who have breast sagging due to aging and gravity as well as weight loss or pregnancy. Improvements in breast lift surgery have made this aesthetic surgery so effective that new statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show a 70% increase in demand for breast lift since 2000. Dr. James Nachbar, a plastic surgeon in Scottsdale, AZ, offers this cosmetic breast surgery at Scottsdale Plastic Surgery. By using the most advanced methods, Dr. Nachbar can decide on the proper technique depending on the level of sag present and the degree of softening in the breast and skin, in addition to the desired aesthetic goal.

Ideal Candidates

Many women visit Dr. Nachbar to explore their options for breast surgery. When there is no droopiness of the breast, a breast augmentation with implants is generally the best procedure.

However, when there is some droopiness, a decision has to be made whether the droopiness is significant enough to warrant a breast lift. It all comes down to what the patient wants.

Often, when there is only a moderate amount of droopiness, the simplicity and limited scarring of breast augmentation are all that is needed to get a satisfactory result. Generally, some droopiness will remain, but women often point out that normal breasts are often a little droopy after motherhood.

However, the exact same breast may require a breast lift when the woman is very unhappy about the drooping. For such a woman, a procedure that does not address her primary concern (the drooping) will not be enough.

When the breasts are extremely droopy, on the other hand, almost everyone will get a better result if a breast lift is performed.

The breast lift can be done by itself, or in conjunction with breast augmentation. While surgeons used to believe that it was too difficult to get a good result doing both breast augmentation and breast lift in the same surgery, today we know that most women will get a good result with the combined procedure.

Breast augmentation in conjunction with breast lift is especially appropriate for woman who both want to bring the breast tissue upward and also want a "perky" or "full" appearance to the breast. Sometimes, a relatively small implant is used, to get the improvement in shape without producing an overly-large breast.

Breast Lift Reviews

"Breast Lift - Dr. Nachbar is extremely knowledgeable and honest. I trust him 100% as this was my 2nd procedure in 17 years and I wouldn't go to anyone else. I pray he never retires. He's perfect. Everything was perfect. I felt comfortable every step of the way."

- Anonymous / RealPatientRatings / May 30, 2017

"Breast Lift - Everyone at the office was super friendly and made me feel very comfortable. They were fun and at the same time very professional. This was my second breast augmentation but first lift/reduction. I wanted by breasts smaller due to back aches and me being a runner, it was a bit uncomfortable. I also had a hard time finding clothes that fit right. I'm happy with the size I decided on, not too much smaller but just enough to fix the problems I had with them. I now feel they are proportionate to my body."

- Anonymous / RealPatientRatings / Mar 01, 2017

"Breast Lift - Used this doctor for another procedure in the past."

- Anonymous / RealPatientRatings / Apr 10, 2017

"Breast Lift - I have been a patient of Dr. Nachbar for over ten years and know that his qualifications exceed my needs, I completley trust him, knowing that he will do an amazing job because he is not only qualified but also gifted in his field with amazing technique; I have had several procedures done over the years and seeing the results from the very first time, I was amazed at his work. The scaring is always incredibly minimal, and the recuperation time from his surgeries is always satisfactory; trust me I have many friend and acquaintances that have had work done by other surgeons and there is no comparison, he is top in his field, love him and his staff, and most certainly will be back to him for any other procedures I might want in the future. I am so grateful for having been guided to his office from the very beginning."

- Anonymous / RealPatientRatings / Dec 10, 2015

"Breast Lift - I have had prior procedures with Dr. Nachbar and have always been happy with his skills and staff."

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Surgical Technique

Breast lift surgery is performed using general anesthesia.

There are several techniques that can be used for breast lift. Most women for whom the sagging is severe enough for a breast lift will get the best result with the "anchor" or "Wise Pattern" breast lift. This technique involves leaving the nipple and areola attached to the breast tissue, but releasing them from the surrounding skin so that the breast and nipple can be moved back to where they belong, and the excess tissue removed below. The result is a scar around the nipple, going downward on the breast, and then across the breast at the inframmamary fold.

More limited procedures are available, including the "vertical" or "lolly-pop" incision, and the "peri-areolar" incision that only goes around the nipple. However, women considering those procedures should be aware that there are some drawbacks. For example, the vertical mastopexy scar often approaches the abdominal wall, and I have often seen cases where other surgeons have allowed the scar to come onto the abdominal wall, where it is visible in a bathing suit.

That is not a problem with the peri-areolar incision, but the peri-areolar incision does not tighten the lower breast at all, and it tends to "flatten" the breast and result in widened scars.

With each technique, the areola is generally reduced to a more normal size with the breast lift.

If a breast lift is the only procedure being performed and if breast fullness and shape become a concern at a later date, breast implants can be placed at a second surgery. This is often an excellent choice for a woman who wants a breast lift, but is not certain that she wants breast implants.

What To Expect

The overall recovery period for a mastopexy is more lengthy than breast augmentation surgery, because there is a longer scar to heal. After surgery, you will have skin strips on the incisions, some gauze, and a loose Ace Wrap around the chest. It is critical that the Ace Wrap be either loose or left off, because tightness here can interfere with blood supply to the nipple in the early post-operative period.

You can remove the Ace Wrap and gauze whenever you want, and should either replace it loosely, wear a very loose sports bra, or wear nothing tight on the chest. After removing the Ace Wrap and gauze, at least temporarily, you may shower as early as the day of surgery.

Your first return visit with Dr. Nachbar will be within the first few days after surgery. You should also expect to see some white sutures coming out around the areola and along the incisions for up to three months after surgery. For patients in the Phoenix area, we often see them at one month, two months, and three months after surgery to help remove those sutures. For patients who have traveled to Arizona for surgery, we can show you how to remove them yourself.

When breast implants are used in conjunction with a breast lift, you should expect the implants to be somewhat high immediately following surgery, and to settle into the breast over the weeks and months following surgery.

Plan Your Procedure

Related Procedures

Healthier-Looking Breasts

Breast lift surgery has altered the lives of many Scottsdale, AZ women. If you are faced with drooping breasts that get in the way of everyday activities or prevent you from wearing the clothes you want, a breast lift at Scottsdale Plastic Surgery may be the right surgery for you. During your first visit, Dr. Nachbar will evaluate your situation and explain the reasonable options so you can make the best choice.

We invite you to contact Scottsdale Plastic Surgery and learn more about how to schedule your first visit.